A green regime

Jon King has given up his car and is now travelling to work by bike and train...

I waved goodbye to my car this week. A few weeks ago I made the decision that two cars on the drive was an unnecessary luxury.

I live a short distance from Wellington train station and each morning I can see the trains coming and going. Perhaps they were sending me a subliminal message, well it worked. The clincher was the Cycle Scheme. A simple process and a great deal.

Last weekend I took ownership of a brand new bike. I explained to the shop assistant that I hadn’t owned a bike since my teen years and that had only three gears. A quick lesson in the art of gear changing was required. The following day was warm and sunny so I strapped on my helmet and set off for a spin around the country lanes. A great experience and a real sense of freedom.

This week I began my green commute regime. Train and bike are a great combination although I did have reservations about taking a bike on a train. I know they’re welcomed but there’s not that much room and if several cyclists turn up, what’s the protocol? There were four bikes on the train the other morning but we all managed, somehow. It’s only one stop for me so that makes things easier. So far so good and I remind myself at regular intervals that I’m getting fitter every day. It’s twelve miles door-to-door so I’m aiming to be fit enough to cycle home at least once a week by spring.

Advice about taking your bike on the train.